Title: Judging the Validity of Evidence
Grade Level: High School
Objective: Students will be able to evaluate the validity of evidence presented in various forms, including written, oral, and visual, and determine its credibility and reliability.
Materials:
- Handout on evaluating evidence
- Examples of evidence in various forms (articles, videos, speeches, etc.)
- Whiteboard and markers
Procedure:
1. Introduction (10 minutes)
- Begin by asking students what they think it means for evidence to be valid. Write their responses on the board.
- Explain that valid evidence is evidence that is reliable, credible, and relevant to the topic at hand.
- Introduce the handout on evaluating evidence and distribute copies to the students.
2. Evaluating Written Evidence (20 minutes)
- Provide students with an article or written piece of evidence.
- Ask students to read the article and identify the author's credentials, sources, and any potential biases.
- Discuss as a class whether the evidence is reliable and credible, and whether it is relevant to the topic at hand.
3. Evaluating Oral Evidence (20 minutes)
- Provide students with a video or speech as evidence.
- Ask students to identify the speaker's credentials, sources, and any potential biases.
- Discuss as a class whether the evidence is reliable and credible, and whether it is relevant to the topic at hand.
4. Evaluating Visual Evidence (20 minutes)
- Provide students with a visual piece of evidence, such as a chart or graph.
- Ask students to identify the source of the data, any potential biases, and whether the evidence is relevant to the topic at hand.
- Discuss as a class whether the evidence is reliable and credible.
5. Conclusion (10 minutes)
- Summarize the key points of the lesson, emphasizing the importance of evaluating evidence for its validity.
- Ask students to reflect on how they can apply these skills in their own lives, such as when reading news articles or listening to political speeches.
Assessment:
- Students will be assessed on their ability to evaluate the validity of evidence presented in various forms.
- Assessment can be done through class discussion, written reflections, or a quiz.